Adapter



Nov. 14, 1939. R. s. WOODRUFF ADAPTER Filed Nov. 25, 1938 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADAPTER Russell S. Woodruff, Riverside, Calif.

Application November 25, 1938, Serial No. 242,367

2 Claims.

My invention relates to caster wheels for articles of furniture and analogous purposes and has as one of the principal objects thereof the provision of a simple and efiicient expander and operating means whereby to firmly secure a caster wheel to the leg or the like of an article to which the caster wheel is applied.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described wherein the expander is so constructed and arranged as to fit various sizes of sockets within the legs of furniture or the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction, durable in use, efficient in operation and economical in manufacture.

An important object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described capable of attachment to articles of furniture and the like without modifying the latter.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of my invention illustrating the same as applied to the leg of an article of furniture.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of my invention.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View of a furniture leg of square configuration illustrating a modified form of my invention as applied thereto.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of one of the expander blades.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view of a furniture leg having another modified form of my invention applied thereto.

In teaching my invention, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawing, I utilize the lower end of a furniture leg 5, the latter being of a cylindrical config uration in cross section and formed with a lengthwise extending bore 6 constituting a socket or the like. Arranged in the bore 6 is my novel form of expander or adapter I and which comprises a pair of upper and lower cylindrical shaped blocks 8 and 9 respectively. The upper block 8 is fashioned on the periphery thereof with radially arranged slots Ill, the latter fashioned with rear walls II inwardly and downwardly inclined. The block 9 is fashioned with radially disposed slots Ila. having upwardly and inwardly incline'd' rear walls l2.

Each of the blocks 8 and 9 is fashioned with centrally disposed bores l3 and I4 respectively and the bore l4 of the block 9 receives therethrough a tube I5 fashioned on the lower end with a closure disk l6 and which is frictionally secured to the lower end of the leg by means of a circumferentially extending flange l1 engaging the periphery of said leg. The upper end of the tube i5 is split and tapered inwardly and detachably secures thereto the headed end of a shank l8 pivotally connected to a bracket IS in which is pivotally mounted a caster wheel 20.

Adjustably mounted in the slots of the upper and lower blocks 8 and 9 are the upper and lower ends of blades 2|, the upper and lower ends of the latter being fashioned with inclined faces engaging the rear walls H and I2 of the respective slots. Between the ends thereof, the outer edges of the blades are fashioned with notches 22 which receive therein a circular split spring 23 which coacts with the blades to maintain the inclined faces thereof in engagement with the inclined rear walls of the blocks. The blocks 8 and 9 are connected together by a screw bolt 24 which is arranged at one side of the centrally disposed bores [3 of said blocks. The screw 24 turns freely in relation to the lower block and is threadedly engaged within the upper block to effect adjustment of the upper block relative to the lower block.

Operation of the screw to effect adjustment of the upper block relative to the lower block serves to move said blades radially, outwardly or inwardly as the case may be to effect engagement with the wall of the bore 6 for securing the expander therein or for releasing the expander therefrom respectively.

A modified form of my device is illustrated in Figure 5 and comprises a pair of screw bolts 30 for effecting adjustment of the upper block relative to the lower block. A construction of this type is desirable for use in connection with a socket of a furniture leg which is of a square configuration in cross section wherein the blades 3| of the device are adapted to be actuated into the corners 32 of the socket.

As illustrated in Figure 6, the circular spring 48 may extend through an opening 4| formed in a blade adjacent the inner edge thereof instead of having seating engagement in a notch formed on the outer edge as in the preferred embodiment,

As illustrated in Figure '7 of the drawing, the expander may be made up of a ternary of blades 50 instead of four as illustrated in the preferred embodiment.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a simple and eflicient form of expander or adapter whereby caster wheels and the like may be readily and reliably secured to the legs of furniture having different sized bores.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein described use therefor as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described, as the same is only illustrative of the principles of operation which are capable of extended application in advance forms, and that the invention comprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

,1. In combination with a supportable member formed with a socket, a pair of relatively adjustable elements arranged in said socket and formed with slots having inclined walls, blades interposing said elements and extending into said slots for engagement with said walls, and means connecting said elements together and operable for adjusting one of said elements relative to the other whereby to effect clamping engagement of said blades with the wall of said socket, said elements formed with aligned bores with the bore of one element adapted to have secured therethrough the shank of a caster and the other of said bores adapted to receive the end of said shank when said elements are disposed in close proximity with respect to each other.

2. In combination with a supportable member formed with a socket, a pair of spaced adjusting blocks arranged in said socket and formed on the peripheries with slots having inclined rear walls,

blades interposing said slots and having inclined faces positioned within said slots and engaging said walls, and a screw device connecting said blocks together and operable for adjusting one of said blocks relative to the other whereby to efiect outward movement of said blades through the medium of said faces and said walls in a manner to engage the wall of said socket, said blocks formed with aligned bores one of which is adapted to have secured therethrough the shank of a caster and with the other of said bores adapted to receive the end of said shank when said blocks are disposed in close proximity with 25 respect to each other.

RUSSELL S. WOODRUFF. 

